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 Thursday, August 17
Report: Anthony reneged on oral deal with Hawks
 
 Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Apparently ready to join the Atlanta Hawks, free agent Greg Anthony has instead signed a multiyear contract to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers. The team would not disclose terms of the deal Sunday.

Greg Anthony
Anthony

Anthony, 32, has served as the backup to starting point guard Damon Stoudamire in Portland the last two seasons. His decision has left the Atlanta Hawks unhappy. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Anthony reneged on an oral agreement to sign with the Hawks.

The newspaper said Anthony was to have flown to Atlanta Sunday to sign a two- or three-year contract and would have been introduced at a Monday news conference.

"We had an agreement," Hawks General Manager Pete Babcock told the newspaper. "We arrived at it 12:30 a.m. on Thursday. Greg wanted to be here, to compete with Jason (Terry) for a starting job. (Agent David Dunn) called me Saturday and said he wasn't going through with it."

Asked whether, in his NBA or Major League Baseball experience, an agent has ever backed away from an oral agreement, team president Stan Kasten said, "No. Absolutely not."

The Hawks offered Anthony their $2.25 million exception, double his salary for last season, with a 10 percent raise in 2001-02.

Anthony is a better defender than Stoudamire and his contributions in relief were instrumental for the Blazers last season. Coach Mike Dunleavy said after Portland lost to the Lakers in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals that he wanted Anthony back with the team.

"We are happy to have Greg back on the Blazers' roster," said Bob Whitsitt, Portland's team president and general manger. "He's a strong force for us in the back court and brings success, leadership and experience to the court and in the locker room."

Last season, Anthony was one of three Blazers to play in all 82 games. He averaged 6.3 points and 2.5 assists in 18.8 minutes. He was second on the team in 3-pointers made with 88. Anthony has averaged 7.4 points and 4.1 assists during his nine-year career in the NBA.

Anthony's signing leaves four players in Portland who are free agents: Brian Grant, Stacey Augmon, Antonio Harvey and Gary Grant.

But it appears Brian Grant is headed to the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade deal involving Portland, Miami and Cleveland that could also end with Gary Grant in Cleveland.

Reports indicate Portland will sign Brian Grant to a seven-year, $90 million deal and send him to Miami. The Heat would ship forwards Chris Gatling and Clarence Weatherspoon to the Cavaliers, who would send Shawn Kemp to the Blazers.

Gatling's inclusion in any possible deal means the trade could not be official until at least Aug. 26. The Heat obtained Gatling from Denver in June and league rules do not allow a player to be traded twice within 60 days.
 


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